It seems the spirit of a flower,
This offspring of the Autumn hour,
Wandering back to earth to bring
Some kindly afterthought of Spring.
A dandelion’s ghost might so
Amid Elysian meadows blow,
Become more fragile and more fine
Breathing the atmosphere divine.
GREY ROCKS AND GREYER SEA
Grey rocks, and greyer sea,
And surf along the shore—
And in my heart a name
My lips shall speak no more.
The high and lonely hills
Endure the darkening year—
And in my heart endure
A memory and a tear.
Across the tide a sail
That tosses, and is gone—
And in my heart the kiss
That longing dreams upon.
Grey rocks, and greyer sea,
And surf along the shore—
And in my heart the face
That I shall see no more.
A SONG OF CHEER
The winds are up with wakening day
And tumult in the tree;
Across the cool and open sky
White clouds are streaming free;
The new light breaks o’er flood and field
Clear like an echoing horn,
While in loud flight the crows are blown
Athwart the sapphire morn.
What tho’ the maple’s scarlet flame
Declares the summer done,
Tho’ finch and starling voyage south
To win a softer sun,
What tho’ the withered leaf whirls by
To strew the purpling stream,—
Stretched are the world’s glad veins with strength,
Despair is grown a dream!